On convergence rates in approximation theory for operator semigroups

We create a new, functional calculus, approach to approximation formulas for _C0$C_0$-semigroups on Banach spaces restricted to the domains of fractional powers of their generators. This approach allows us to equip the approximation formulas with rates which appear to be optimal in a natural sense. In the case of analytic semigroups, we improve our general results obtaining better convergence rates which are optimal in that case too. The setting of analytic semigroups includes also the case of convergence on the whole space. As an illustration of our approach, we deduce optimal convergence rates in classical approximation formulas for _C0$C_0$-semigroups restricted to the domains of fractional powers of their generators.